The Coconut Grove Arts Festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, not only enjoyed perfect weather, great crowds, activities for all ages but also incredible art from the unusual and creative to the whimsical.
While serious art collectors seemed to wait until Monday for their purchases, a recycled metal UF Gator for the garden was a purchase that was instantaneous for one Gator fan.
Peacock Park was the draw for kids looking for fun with crowds enjoying live entertainment throughout the weekend. Of course, this year’s festival chair, Monty Trainer, was on hand looking dapper as ever in his guayabera and very happy with this successful anniversary milestone event.
Lots of fun also was offered at St. Stephens Art Festival next door. Conducted the same weekend as the Grove Festival that draws national attention, St. Stephens is a draw, especially for locals, with its own entertainment and vendor booths. All in all, it was a great weekend for the Grove.
Festival, checks out the crowd at Peacock Park during the
festival.
In other news, the Miami Lighthouse’s sixth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk will offer dog owners a chance to strut their stuff. This year’s walk will take place on Sunday, Mar. 3, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Shops at Midtown Miami, 3401 N. Miami Ave. The annual affair seeks to raise awareness for dog guides and service dogs of all kinds at This year’s grand prize winner for most participant pledges collected will receive two tickets with a once-in-alifetime meet and greet experience to see Cesar Millan, “The Dog Whisperer,” on June 14 at The Fillmore.
Participating in the walk will be dog guides, other service animals and regular pet companions and their owners walking and gathering pledges to support the programs and initiatives of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Among the honorary Dog-nitaries this year will be Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, CBS4 morning anchor Rhiannon Ally and chief meteorologist David Bernard. Look for a “Bagels and Bones Breakfast” at 9 a.m. sponsored by Fresh Market and Miami Global Colombian Lions Club; the dog walk at 9:30 a.m. followed by contest prizes for “cutest,” “lookalike,” “most talented dog,” “Dog-Ummy,” “Musical Paws,” and Go Doggy Staying contests.
Free parking is available in the PetSmart garage; on-site registration is $25 which includes a Britto “Azul” dog walk T-shirt and doggy bandana; the fee is waived for visually impaired walkers. For more information, call 786-362-7515.
As co-chairs of the Dade Heritage Trust Gala, Susan and Robin Shelley recently hosted the Gala Committee at their elegant Coconut Grove home to plan the Trust’s “Voyage of Dreams” fundraiser to take place on Apr. 12 at the Biltmore Hotel. This year’s affair will commemorate the 500th Anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s landing in Florida with Ambassador Cristina Barrios, Consul General of Spain, as the event’s honorary chair.
Guests will enjoy Spanish entertainment, a seven-piece band and a silent auction with extraordinary travel and antique items up for bid.
Among those planning the celebration are Rob Marshall, Lilian Walby, Cory Gittner, Peter and Aymee Zubizarreta, Robin and Susan Shelley, Marlin Ebbert, Ruth Jacobs, Dolly MacIntyre, Phyllis McHenry, Rita Michel, B.R.Witt and Lois Randall.
Founded in 1972, Dade Heritage Trust is Miami’s largest nonprofit historic preservation organization whose past projects have include the restoration of the Cape Florida Lighthouse, located at the tip of Key Biscayne, where Ponce de Leon is believed to have visited in 1513.
For more information, send email to dadeheritage@dht.comcastbiz.net.
Finally, theater lovers will want to reserve seats for the new show at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, In the Heights, running Mar. 6 through April 7. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this hip musical is sure to delight crowds with its sweet story and great music.
For tickets, call 305 444-9293.Dr. Lawrence E. Stein, Founding board chair; Barbara Stein, executive producing director, and David Arisco, artistic director, continue to provide our community with incredible quality shows and are to be congratulated on their 25th anniversary season.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
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